Thirteen Days to Midnight, the latest from Patrick Carman, is a thriller from page one. Being indestructible may seem like a fantastic super power to have, but as Jacob Fielding quickly learns, the addictive allure of testing the limits of fear, the thrill of escaping harrowing accidents unscathed, and even saving another person from certain death, aren’t what they seem to be. With every heroic act Jacob and his 2 thrill-seeking friends accomplish, the strange power that inhabits Jacob seems to grow stronger, darker, and more like a curse. He knows something terrible is about to happen, but he can’t convince himself, or his friends, to stop before it’s too late.
This is a fast-paced, nail-biting thrill ride that is full of mystery, dark secrets and hard choices. Carman constructs an engaging plot with lots of action and a compelling mystery that addictively draws the reader in, just like Jacob’s power becomes an addiction to him. As he has done before, Carman creates teen characters who are easy to relate to and feel a lot like the kids you hang out with at school. Without being too overbearing, Jacob’s struggle to accept the fact that his power is both a responsibility and has a price is a great metaphor for growing up and realizing that our choices have consequences, oftentimes greater than the thrill/gratification of the moment.
Thirteen Days to Midnight gets you thinking about power, responsibility, freewill and choice, without even realizing it because you’re enjoying the roller coaster ride so much. It’s a solid move by Carman towards an older audience who crave darker themes, harsher choices, and more substance behind the action.
- Posted by Cori